Automatic latch-releasing mechaitism



w. J. BUECHLER.

AUTOMATIC LATCH RELEASING MECHANlSM'.

APPLICATION man MAY 21. 1917.

1 ,v323,"?4:1. Patented Dec. 919.

ii -J 17 2b 2" v BI Snow Ho: William J.E1uachler :2iki: W z 4 z art-mung"- W. J. BUECHLER.

AUTOMATIC LATCH RELEASING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,191].

Patented Dec. 2, 1919,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

William J.

7 operating devices.

Uhllifi TAT WIL IAM J. BUEQHLER, or onawronnsvinnn-mmane.

1 AUTOMATIC shamanism :MECHANISM.

To all whom'it may concern."

ment in Automatic Latch-Releasing Mechanism, or which the following is a specification.

T he present invention relates to an automatic latch releasing-mechanisni adapted for use on windows, and has for anobj'ect to provide means for direct contact with the object to be locked and'which may be released electrically. v i r A still further object of the invention is to provide improved electrical devices for use in the circuits employed, for retaining the sashes of the windows open at various heights and for aut'on'iatically releasing the sashes when'the circuits are closed.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention "will be in part described, and in part understood, from the following detailed description of the pres ent preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein v Figure 1 is an inner side elevation of a window showing a sash partly raised, the view also showing diagrammatically one system of circuits which may beeniplo'yed, and showing partly in section one of -the window Fig. 2 is an outer end elevation ofone f the window operating devices.

:Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the same substantially. on the line 8- 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken longitudinally through the window operating device substantially on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 3'.' I

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the V automatic latch" for retainingthe window operatingdevice inoperative and for maintaining the circuits open after energizing the device.

I Referring to the drawings, A designates a window casing of any approved type provided therein with vertically movable sashes B of the usual construction, and which are adapted to normally fall by gravity into closed position. Carried upon one side of the casing A and preferably seated therein, is a sash-controlling device comprising a cas- Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Application med may 21,

V PatentedDec.2,1919. 1917. Seria1 1 Io.170,C4=6.

ing 10 positioned at a suitable distance from the lower end of the casing A, and which is preferably of elongated fiat formation.

Arranged longitudinally near the top and within the casing 10 is a locking lever 11 which projects at opposite ends through the opposite ends of the casing 10. A friction shoe 12, of'rubber or the like, is. carried upon the inner end of the lever 11 and is adapted for binding engagement against the p adjacent edge of the sash B. When in lockin'g position, the lever 11 is adapted to eX- tend substantially horizontally through the casing'lO, and the friction shoe 12 is preferably inclined inwardly away from the sash I y B to release the latter when the inner end ot the lever is raised. The lever 11 is pivoted upon a pin 13 at a point nearer the inner end of. the lever than the outer end thereof, the'pi'n 13 being securedtransversely through the casing for supporting the lever.

casing 10 is'provided upon its outer end witha sliding bolt or latch 14: which is slidably and horizontally. mounted in a bracket 15, and is provided with a spring 16 h arranged bet-ween the bracket and the bolt to normally urgethe' latter at its free end against the projecting outer extremity of the lever 11 when the latter is in a horizontal position, as shown 1n Figs. 3 and a. The

outer extremity of the lever 11 is of such width, vertically, that when the inner end of the lever 11 is raised out of engagement with the sash B, the bolt 14: is released, andthe The latter is adapted to snap over the upper edge of the lever 11 to retain it positively in raised or releasing position. 7

h For the purpose of adjustably holding the outer end of the lever 11 in position when raised, a set screw 17isthreaded downwardly throughthe top of the casing 10 and is provided upon' its lower extremity with a 4 fixed contact point adapted to engage a movable contact point carried upon'the free end of a leafspring 18, the latter being mounted upon the outer endland upper edge ofthe lever 11. When'released by the bolt" 14, the lever 11 is adapted to be norinally raised at its outer end and yieldingly held in such position by the provision or a spring'19 having one endafiXed within the bottom of the casing 10, and its opposite end secured to the innenend of the lever 11 for urging the let.

ter downwardly. Elect .ically actuated means 1s provided n the casing 10 tor moving the lever 11 into releasing position, the means lllitlle present instance comprising a niagnet'orfsolenoid arranged vertically in'theci sing 10 beneath the outer end o'f the lever 11, and having its pole piece arrangedin alinement beneath an farmature 21 lower etlgeiof thelever. 11. c

A preferred arrangement of v circuit is shown in Fig. -1 with respect to one window, and wherein wires 22 and 23 lever 11. It will thus be evident that when the circuit is closed, the latter will be closed to the elements as above-pointed out for energizing the inagnetBQ to draw the outer end of the lever 11 downwardly to release the shoe 12 frointlie side of the sash Bs The sash B, by its weight, is adapted to fall into closed position, ancl any suitable means may beemployed for regulating the fall. The outer end of the lever 11 is drawn downwardly out oi? the path of the bolt let,

- and the spring 16, thereof? urges the bolt,

across the vertical path ofthe'lever 11, thus holding the lever 11 in releasing position and against the tensionot spring l9.- This downward movement of the outer end of the lever- 11 moves the spring 18 away from the fixedcontact 17, and breaks the above-described circuit, so that even though the circuitcloser 11 maintains its portion of the circuit closed, the circuit is broken between the fixed and movable contacts in the casing 10 and thus a lossiii current consumption is avoided, To again openthe sash B 'it' is only necessaryito raise the same to the '(lesireclheight and withdraw the latch 14:, the circuit closer 25 being open, to release the locking lever llwhen the latter drawn downwardlyat its inner end by the spring 19 and. bindstheshoe 12 againstth-adjacent edge of the sash B. This readjustnent of the lever 11 into locking positionbrings the fixed and movable contacts in the casing 10 into engagement with each 7 other'to complete that portion ofthe circuit which passes through the casing; 1

It is of course understood that various changes may be made in the detailsof conrestricted claims. 7 p I cla1in':

the electric struction Of the above-specifically described embodiment of this 111V6l1l310nJVltllOllt de parting from tl'ie-spiritthereof, and being only by the scope of thefollowing --'1. In anautoinatic latch releasingincchanis n, thelcoinbination of aicasing, a latchv lever pivoted between itsenols intermedi ately inthe casing and projecting at one end from the casing for engagement with an element to be locked, said lever yieldingly seeking the locking position,qa magnet ar ranged to attract the other end of said lever for swing ng said lever-into releasing position, 'astop element secured in insulated relation to the'casing in the path of the said other end of the lever and opposite the magnet for limiting the, swinging of the @lever.

in the direction of its locking movement, re leasable means adapted to hold the lever in released position, and an electric circuit iieluding in series the stop element, the lever and the magnet for energizing the latter to release the latch lever and open the circuit through sa d stop element, said releasable Vmeans being adapted to hold the lever in the released position with the circuit open.

2. In an autom atic latch releasing mecha: nism, the con'ibinationof a casing, a latch lever pivoted between its ends intermediately in the casing and projecting at one end from the casing forengagement with an element to be locked, a spring in the casing engaging the latch lever for urging said projecting end thereof in ,one direction to bind against the element, a magnet in the casing opposite the other end of the latch lever and adapted when energized to swing the lever against the tension of the spring nto {releasing position, a stop element secured ln lIlSIlliLtGCl relation to the casing in the path of the said otherend of-the lever .i

swinging of the lever under the tensio roi the spring, a *manually; releasable spring bolt carried on the casing andnorinally urged against theside -o the lever and adapted to snap over the edge of the lever and opposite the magnet for limiting the V i when actuated by the magnet for holding 7 the lever in'released position, and an electric circuit including in series'the stop element, the lever and the magnet for 'ener gizing the latter to releasethe latch lever and open the circuit, said bolt'being adapted to snap. over the lever and maintain the lever released and the-circuit open.

WILLIAM J BUECHLER. 

